Final speakers announced for Summer Schools 2026
- 29 June 2026
- The final speakers have been announced for Digital Health Summer Schools 2026, including senior NHS digital leaders, clinicians and transformation experts
- The programme features sessions on AI patient safety, digital leadership and evaluating digital change, alongside networking events
- The conference takes place on 16-17 July at the University of Nottingham and is exclusively for Digital Health Networks members. Register now to attend
The final round of speakers for Digital Health Summer Schools 2026 has been announced, with experienced NHS digital leaders joining the line-up.
The premier learning and networking event for digital health leaders is exclusively for members of the Digital Health Networks, the UK’s largest health IT community, and is open to current and aspiring digital health leaders.
The newly confirmed speakers are:
- David Walliker, chief digital and information officer, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
- Minal Patel, programme delivery director, frontline productivity, NHS England
- Mike Bracken, founder, Public Digital
- Linda Vernon, head of digital empowerment, Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board
- John Mitchell, associate director of digital, NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board
- Dr Tom Micklewright, clinical lead for digital transformation in primary care, Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board
- Lucy Jenks, lead digital clinical safety officer and children’s occupational therapist, Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
- Colin Nicklas, independent consultant, executive and performance coach
- Leah Parry, chief clinical information officer: nursing, midwifery, Bristol NHS Group
- Rochelle Featherstone, digital transformation delivery lead, Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust
- Kimberley Dawson, senior clinical safety officer, Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
NHS England’s Dr Alec Price-Forbes, national chief clinical information officer (CCIO), Helen Balsdon, national chief nursing information officer (CNIO), and Dr Wajid Hussain, national chief medical information officer (CMIO) were also confirmed as speakers last week.
They will discuss how digital leaders can reimagine healthcare and deliver meaningful, sustainable change across the NHS.
Earlier this month, Digital Health published the full Summer Schools 2026 programme, which is available to view here.
The conference has a revamped format which doubles down on small-group and interactive sessions to provide attendees with more practical insights and deeper knowledge exchange.
The CPD-accredited programme will include peer knowledge exchange and practical leadership sessions for attendees.
Highlights on day one include three must-see sessions:
- Power, influence and accountability: how not to suck as a digital leader in 2026
- AI is now the top risk to patient safety: what can organisations and patients do to protect themselves?
- Measuring what is meaningful: how do we effectively evaluate digital change?
Summer Schools takes place at the University of Nottingham on 16-17 July. The social programme includes a pre-event BBQ and middle-night dinner, where the winners of the Digital Health Awards will be revealed and the top-ranking person of the inaugural Digital Health Impact List will be honoured.
The event is supported by Networks sponsors AWS, Better, CereCore, Dell Technologies/AMD, InterSystems, Microsoft, Nervecentre, Optum Emis, Salesforce and System C.
Attend Summer Schools to gain 10 CPD points towards your professional registration. Places are limited, so secure your place today and register here.
